Rookie curator and SCG wicket under scrutiny in fifth and final Ashes Test, says Michael Clarke

Michael Clarke believes all eyes will be the SCG wicket when the fifth and final Ashes Test between Australia and England gets underway at the SCG on Thursday.

Australia has already wrapped up the series 3-0, with the fourth Test ending in a benign draw at the MCG on a wicket that was later rated as "poor" by the International Cricket Council.

The SCG has a new curator, Adam Lewis, who cut his teeth at Hurstville Oval before replacing Tom Parker at the historic ground. Parker held the job for 20 years and Lewis becomes only the ninth curator at the ground in 160 years.

Clouding the issue is the weather, with intermittent rain falling in Sydney on Thursday which is expected to give way to hotter weather as the Test wears on.

"I think the forecast is pretty good, I think we get some heat later in the week," Clarke said.

"The rain's meant to stop, there might be a little bit of moisture so we might see a little bit of swing.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing what this pitch is like.

"We've got a brand new curator here at the SCG, great groundsman, from all reports he's very good, had a lot of experience, but this is the first Test match he's done so what sort of pitch are we going to get."

Clarke said he had been intrigued by the approach of both teams, with Australia electing to take only one spinner into the Test with Nathan Lyon, while England has elected to take two spinners with Mason Crane joining Moeen Ali in the team.

"Steve Smith said there was going to be a bit of moisture and a bit of grass, he's expecting swing and seam, whereas Joe Root is saying, "Nope, I think this pitch is conducive to two spinners'," Clarke said.

"It's going to be interesting to see who wins the toss firstly, what they do and how the pitch plays.

"(Crane has) got five wickets playing for NSW, he knows the ground, he knows the conditions and England has got nothing to lose.

"It's a good selection and definitely worth a go."

Clarke said both teams would have plenty to play for, with England showing some fight in the fourth Test while Australia is keen to reclaim their mantle as the No.1 ranked Test team in the world.

"I think England showed some glimpses of their best cricket in the last Test match at Melbourne so let's hope here at the SCG they can start the Test match well, grab hold of that momentum early and take it forward," Clarke said.

"I've heard Steve Smith talk about the ranking, he wants to see Australia get back to No.1 in the world so this Test match is going to be just as important as the first Test in Brisbane."